Loading machine



July 23, "1935. F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed April 21, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet July 23, 1935. F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed April 21, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 LOADING MACHINE Original Filed April 21,

1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 23, 1935. CARTLIDGE 2,008,817

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed April 21, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES LOADING mean? MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Renewed October 11, 1934 Application April 21, 1932, Serial No. 606,619

25 Claims.

This invention relates to loading machines of the type adapted to load coal in mines at the working face, and has among otherobjects to provide a new and improved gathering and loading element for picking up and loading coal or like material. 7

One of the problems encountered in loading coal is that under certain conditions and in certain kinds of coal seams, the coal when shot down, does not readily break up into small pieces but frequently comes down as one mass of material. Another condition encountered is that the force of the explosive charge at the rearward end of the drill hole, which is usually positioned adjacent the inner end of the kerf cut by the mining machine, may wedgethe. coal between the mine roof and the mine bottom. This wedged coal or these large lumps of coal continually impede the progress of the loading operation and necessitate the employment of man power to break up the coal so it may readily be gathered by the gathering and loading mechanism. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a means associated with the gathering and loading mechanism which will break up these large lumps of material and break down coal which has been wedged between the mine roof and mine bottom or which is hanging from the mine roof and coal face.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan View of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing certain other parts broken away and in section than are shown in Figure 3; V

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 'i-l of Figure 3. V

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the main elements of the embodiment of my invention illustrated are similar to those disclosed in a prior application bearing SerialNo. 472,701; filed by me August 2, 1930, and entitled Improvements in loading machines, and consist of a wheeled truck or main frame iii having an in- V clined gathering and loading element H in front 5 of the main frame, and a discharge conveyor l2 extending from beneath the rear end of said gathering and loading element and upwardly and rearwardly therefrom overhanging the rear end of the main frame ill for discharging material 10 into suitable receptacles such as mine cars.

A suitable means is provided for driving the main operating parts, which means herein comprises an electric motor 33. The electric motor is has driving connection with thetruck wheels 15 for driving the loading machine about the mine and for feeding the loading element into the material to be loaded. The electric motor is also serves as a driving means for the operating parts of the gathering and loading element 9 i, for rais- 2( ing or lowering said gathering'and loading element, and for swinging said gathering and loading element about a vertical axis. The details of the drive to the main operating parts are similar to those disclosed in my aforementioned prior 2 -5 application so will not herein be shown or described in detail.

The gathering and loading element i I comprises an inclined conveyor frame M supported between a pair of upright side plates l5for pivotal 30 movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof. The upright side plates iii are in turn supported on the main frame Hl'for swinging the inclined conveyor frame E i about'a vertical axisand posi- 35 tioning the gathering and loading element l l for gathering from various sections in the working place. The means for swinging the upright side plates l5 about a vertical axis, and the inclined conveyor frame It about a horizontal axis, are not herein shown or described since they are no portion of my present invention and are fully disclosed in my aforementioned prior application.

The inclined conveyor frame 14 is provided 5 with a central portion or pan 16 forming a surface for moving material therealong and sides I? extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom, the upper portion of which sides are flared outwardly to form in' eifect a hopper for retaining 5 and deflecting material on the pan It. Suitable means are provided for moving'loose material along the central portion orpan IE3 of the inclined conveyor frame M which may be of'any construction, but which is herein preferably shown as I top surface of the central being a flight conveyor indicated by reference character 19.

The flight conveyor i9 may be of any suitable construction, but is herein preferably shown as comprising a pair of parallel spaced chains having flights 2i carried therebetween in a suitable manner. The chains 26 are trained around suitable sprockets (not shown in detail) adjacent the rearward end of the conveyor frame 14 keyed on a transversely extending drive shaft 23 coaxial with the axis of pivotal connection of the conveyor frame I4 with the upright side plates I5. The transversely extending drive shaft 23 is driven from the motor l3 by means of a suitable geared reduction drive, and chain and sprocket drives generally indicated by reference character 2 in a manner similar to that disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned prior application.

The conveyor chains 23 extend forwardly from the sprockets on the shaft 23 along the underside of the pan Id of the conveyor frame l4 over adjustable idler rollers 25 under drive sprockets 25 keyed on a transversely extending drive shaft 27 and forwardly from. said drive sprockets and around drive sprockets 29 keyed on a transversely extending shaft 39 disposed adjacent the forward end of the flight conveyor it. From thence the conveyor chains 29 extend rearwardly along the portion or pan 15 of the conveyor frame M to the sprockets on the shaft 23. y

The idler rollers 25 may be adjusted for adjusting the tension of the conveyor drive chains 2!] in a usual manner, which is illustrated in Figure 4 but is not herein described in detail since it is no portion of my invention.

Referring now in particular to the gathering and loading element and several of the novel features of my invention, inclined aprons 3! are provided on a forward portion of the inclined conveyor frame [4 adjacent each side of the flight conveyor IE3. The inclined aprons 33 are inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect to the ground, upon which the machine rests, than the flight conveyor l9 and are spaced closer together adjacent their forward ends than at their rearward ends. A shoe indicated at 32 is disposed adjacent the forward underportion of each inclined apron 3| and abuts the forward end thereof so the entire inclined conveyor frame l4 may rest on said shoe on the mine bottom, and so the inclined aprons 3! with the shoes 32 will form in effect a wedge which may be wedged under the broken down material which it is desired to load. The rearward portions of the inclined aprons 3! merge into and are connected to the outwardly flared sides H of the conveyor frame l4. With reference to Figure 3, it may be seen that the angle of the inner sides of the inclined aprons 3i and the outwardly flared sides H of the inclined conveyor frame 14 is such as to deflect material onto said conveyor and to prevent the gathering mechanism from carrying the material around past the conveyor to the opposite side of said apron.

The aprons 3| serve to support a portion of the gathering and loading mechanism which herein comprise endless chains 33 movable in fixed orbital paths in guides 3-1 fixed to the top portion of each apron 3!. endless chains 33 have gathering arms 35 connected thereto and spaced therealong at definite intervals determined by the size of material which is being loaded and the speed of said endless chains.

The gathering arms 35 are provided with a plurality of bits 3'5 on their outer ends to aid in breaking up'large or tight pieces of material so it may readily be moved onto the flight conveyor IS. The endless chains 33 are driven from the light conveyor 55 by means of bevel gear drives indicated at 31 driven from opposite ends of the transversely extending drive shaft 21', which bevel gear drives are connectible with shafts 39 extending perpendicularly to the aprons 3! for driving said shafts. The shafts t are journaled in suitable bearing means secured to the under-portion of the aprons .3 and have sprockets 4G3 keyed thereto adjacent the upper side of the aprons which sprockets mesh with and drive the endless chains 33.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, it may be seen that the paths of the gathering arms 35 are such that a dead space is left between said gathering arms. Where the material is tightly wedged between the mine roof and bottom, or where the lumps are large, it is impossible to feed the gathering element into the loose material due to the material which collects in this dead space. Various means have been provided for eliminating this dead space which include the cutting back of the forward end of the apron and spacing the gathering arms closer together towards the center line of the conveyor so said gathering arms may gather the material which is forced into this cut-away portion of the apron. I herein provide a new and improved means of a novel construction for gathering and breaking up material in the dead space left by the gathering arms which comprises a rotatable bar 4i having bits 63 therein.

The rotatable bar 4! has a plurality of sprockets 44 keyed at. opposite ends thereof and is journaled in a suitable bearing support extending forwardly from the flight conveyor 19. Drive sprockets :15 are provided on opposite ends of the transversely extending drive shaft 3d. The drive sprockets 45 are connected with the sprockets a l for driving said sprockets by means of suitable drive chains indicated at 46. A plate 4'? extends forwardly from the underportion of the inclined conveyor frame hi adjacent the lower side of the parallel spaced chains 2% and drive sprockets 29 to a point adjacent the mine bottom rearward-- ly of the rotatable bar M. An arcuate shaped guide plate 4-8 extends upwardly and inwardly from the forward end of the. plate d? and conforms substantially to the path of the bits on the rotatable bar ii and is tied to an arcuate shaped guide plate 49 conforming to the path of the parallel spaced chains 25 by means of a plate 5%. A baflle plate 5| is secured to the upper side of the plate 50 and extends forwardly and downwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the rotatable bar 4|. The baffle plate 5i is pro vided with a series of slots 52 therein which are adapted to receive the bits 43 in the rotatable bar 4|.

It should be noted that the bits 43 extend out wardly from the rotatable bar M, that their forward surface forms a straight line perpendicu" lar to a plane which intersects the axis of said rctatable bar, and that the angle between said bits and the baffle plate 55 is such that when said bits approach the slots 52 and are moving material upwardly onto the baffle plate 5i and plate 50, that said bits will deflect the material onto the plate 50 where it may be engaged by the gathering arms 35 instead of crushing said material between the bafiie plate 5: and slots 52.

It may thus be seen that as the entire gathering and loading element It is advanced into the material which is being loaded the bits 43 in'the rotatable bar M will engage the material left in the dead space between the gathering arms 35 and move said material onto the plate 55 whereit may be deposited onto the flight conveyor I!) by means of the gathering arms 35. Furthermore, it should be noted that the bits 43 are so arranged that they may cut into large lumps of material and break said material up so it may readily be gathered onto the flight conveyor l9 by the gathering arms 35' and permit the entire gathering and loading element l l to beadvanced into the material which is being loaded, 7

Referring nowlin particular to the means for breakingdown the coal or material wedged between the mine roof or minebo-ttom, a plurality of reciprocably movable picks 55 operable upon operation of the gathering arms Y35 and driven thereby are provided. The picks Share carried on the top surface'or" the guides 34 for the endless chains 33 and extend longitudinally' thereof. In: asmuch as the picks 55 oneach guide 34 and means for operatingsaid picks areof a similar construction, one only will herein be shown and described in detail. 7

Referring now inv particular to Figures 3, 4, and 6 showing the details of themechanism for reciprocating each pick 55, a cam member 58 is keyed on the upper end of the shaft 39. and is journaled in suitable bearing supports secured to the guides 34.- The cam member 56 is adapted to engage a rider 5'! secured to the lower end of a connecting arm 58. The cam member 55 has an engaging surface of substantially a crescent shape so as to move the connecting arm 58 rearwardly with respect to the guide 34 against a suitable compression spring 59 and release said connecting arm at'a certain predetermined point to permit forward movement of the pick 55 actuated by said compression spring. 7 V

The connecting arm 58 extends forwardly from the rider 5! and is formed integral with a pick supporting member 6!! having the pick 55 attached to its forward end in a suitable manner; as, for instance, a pin indicated at iii. The portion of the pick supporting member Bil rearwardly of the pick 55 and forwardly of the cam '56 is of a box like construction and encloses the'compression spring 59' and is itself enclosed in a guide member 52 extending longitudinally of the guide 54. Suitable longitudinally extending guides 63 are formed in the lowerrearward end of the pick supporting member 6i! which are engageablerwith a guide 64 formed by the lower leg of an angle 65 by reducing the width of said leg. The otherleg of the angle 65 extends perpendicularly to the guide 34. The compression spring '59 is interposed between the forward end of the leg of the angle 65 perpendicular to the guide 34 and an inner end 66 of the supporting member 6. Thus rotation of the cam member 55 moves the connecting arm 58 of the supporting member rearwardly with respect to the guide member 62 which causes compression of the compression spring 59, and as the cam member 56 is released from the rider 51, the pick 55 is impelled forwardly by means of the compression spring 59 to a position adjacent the forward end of 'the gathering arms 35 as may be clearly seen with reference to Figure 4e Suitable means are provided to lock the pick 55 in an inoperative position, which means herein comprises a latch member 61. which is adapted to move through suitable apertures in the guides 34 to engage the forward side of the inner end of the supporting member 59 and hold the spring 59 in ajc'ompressed position and prevent release thereof. A slight amount of clearance is provided between the forward side of the inner end 58 of the supporting member 50 and the latch member 6'! when the cam 55 has moved the pick supporting member 55 in an extreme rearward position with respect to the guide member 52 to permit said latch member to be disengaged from said pick supporting member.

The. latch member 51 is formed integral with and'extends upwardly from the'forward end of one arm'of a bell crank lever it 'pivotallysup ported on a horizontally extending pin 69. The opposite arm of the bell crank lever 58 extends downwardly from the pin 69 and has a connecting rod 28 pivotally connected thereto, which connecting rod extends rearwardly from said bell crank lever and has its rearward end connected to a coupling member H.

. The coupiing member H is pivotally connected adjacent its central portion to the upper end of a lever 12 pivotally supported on the vertical portion of the sides I! of the inclined conveyor frame l4 intermediate its ends. The lower end of lever 12' has the end of a transversely extending shaft 73 secured thereto in a usual manner. The opposite end of the transverselyextending'shaft T3 is secured to the lowerend of the lever E2 onthe opposite side of the conveyor frame M, which lever is connected with the bell crank lever 68 for the opposite latch member 6]. The picks 55 may therefore be locked in an inoperative positionv or rendered operative fromoneside of the machine. An operating rod i5is connected to the opposite end of the coupling member '3! on the right hand side of the machine and has a suitable gripping means formed on its rearward end (not'shown) which is adapted to be engaged by suitable locking means in a usual manner for holding the latch member 5'! in a locked or unlocked position. The rearward end of V the operating rod 75 and gripping means thereon isso located as to be remote from the forward por tion of the inclined gathering and loading element to prevent injury to the operator of the machine in cases wherethe picks 55 break down the entire coal face causing it to fall on the forward portion of the machine, which condition is very desirable inasmuch as it eliminates a portion of the gathering operation.

It may'now be seen that anew and improved gathering and loading element has been provided for 'a loading machine which is of such a constructionthat it may operate equally as well in places where the lumps of coal are larg'e,or where the coal is tightly wedgged between the roof and bottom as in-p'laces where thecoal is loose; it may also be seen that the gathering and loading element of the device of my invention is so constructed that a maximum amount of materialmay'be gathered with aminimum amount of physical labor, and that the machine has been constructed with a view towardnnifornrfeeding into the material to be loaded for loading said material ata maximumuniformrate.

While I have herein shown and describedone embodiment ofiny invention, it will be under stood'that'theconstruction and arrangement of Y the various parts may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific form illustrated,

excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, and a rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyor between said endless chains.

2. A loading machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotatable bar is disposed transversely of the conveyor and is provided with a plurality of bits.

3. In a loading machine of the class described, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron disposed on each side of said inclined conveyor, an endless chain having gathering arms thereon guided on each apron for movement in orbital paths in planes parallel to the planes of said aprons, breaking mechanism extending forwardly of said conveyor and operable simultaneously with said endless chains, and a transversely extending rotatable bar having gathering means thereon supported between said aprons forwardly of said inclined conveyor.

4. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rotatable bar is driven by the inclined conveyor.

5. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the gathering means on the rotatable bar comprise bits.

6. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rotatable bar is driven by the inclined conveyor, wherein the gathering means on said rotatable bar comprises bits and wherein a baflie plate having slots adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyor towards said rotatable bar.

'7. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rotatable bar is driven by the in clined conveyor, wherein the gathering meanson said rotatable bar comprises bits, wherein a baflle plate having slots adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyor towards said rotatable bar and wherein the angle of the bits with respect to the baffle plate as said bits approach the baffle plate is such as to deflect material along said baffle plate onto said inclined conveyor.

8. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the breaking mechanism comprises a reciprocably movable forwardly extending pick supported on each apron. Y

9. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the picks are reciprocably moved by the mechanism for driving the endless chains.

10. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the breaking mechanism comprises a reciprocably movable forwardly extending pick supported on each apron'and wherein the picks are reciprocably moved by cam and spring mechanism driven by the mechanism for driving the endless chains.

11. In a loading machine, gathering'and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, a rotatable bar disposed transversely and forwardly of said conveyor having a plurality of bits extending outwardly therefrom and a baffle plate extending forwardly of said conveyor towards said rotatable bar and having a plurality of slots therein adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar.

12. A loading machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the angle of the bits with respect to the bailie plate as said bits approach said baffle plate is such as to deflect material along said baffle plate onto said inclined conveyor.

13. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, breaking mechanism extending forwardly of the conveyor operablesimultaneously with the endless chains, and a rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyor and extending transversely with respect thereto between said endless chains.

14. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, breaking mechanism comprising a plurality of reciprocably movable forwardly extending picks and a rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyor between said endless chains.

15. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, breaking mechanism comprising a plurality of reciprocably movable forwardly extending picks reciprocably driven by the mechanism for driving the endless chains and a rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyor between said endless chains.

16. In a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of endless chains having gathering arms thereon spaced on each side of said conveyor, said chains extending forwardly of said conveyor and being movable in orbital paths in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, a rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyor between said endless chains, and breaking mechanism extending forwardly of the conveyor comprising a plurality of reciprocably movable forwardly extending picks operable simultaneously with and reciprocated by the mechanism for driving the endless chains.

1'7. A loading machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein the picks are reciprocably moved by cam and spring mechanism.

18. A loading machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein the picks are reciprocably moved by cams driven from the mechanism for driving the endless chains and resilient members having connec tion with said picks. w

19. In combination in a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising a conveyer, gathering means on each side of said conveyer extending from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof for moving material therebetween onto said conveyer, and a transversely disposed rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyer between said gathering means.

20. A loading machine as set forth in claim 19,

wherein the rotatable bar is provided with a plurality of bits and wherein a baflie plate having slots adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyer towards said rotatable bar.

21. A loading machine as set forth in claim 19, wherein the rotatable bar is provided with a plurality of bits, wherein a baffle plate having slots adapted to register with the bitson said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyer towards said rotatable bar, and wherein the angle of the bits with respect to the bafile plate as said.

bits approach said baffle plate is such as to deflect material along said baflie plate onto said inclined conveyer.

22. A loading machine in accordance with claim 19, wherein breaking mechanism is provided comprising a pair of reciprocably'movable forwardly extending picks. disposed above and extending along and driven by each of said gathering means.

23. In combination in a loading machine, gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising a conveyer, gathering means on each side of said conveyer extending from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof for moving material therebetween onto said conveyer,

breaking mechanism extending forwardly of said conveyerand disposed above and operated by said gathering means, and a transversely disposed rotatable bar having gathering means thereon disposed forwardly of said conveyer between said gathering means.

24. A loading machine as set forth in claim 23, wherein the rotatable bar is provided with a plurality of bits, and wherein a baffle plate having slots adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyer towards said rotatable bar.

25. A loading machine as set forth in claim 23, wherein therotatable bar is disposed transversely of the conveyer and is provided with a plurality of bits, wherein a baiile plate having slots adapted to register with the bits on said rotatable bar extends forwardly of the conveyer towards said rotatable bar, and wherein the angle of the bits with respect to the baflie plate as said bits approach said bafiie plate is such as to deflect material along said bafiie plate onto said conveyer.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

